Bore of the month
John Smith (but of course!) writes: I am a devout Non-Smoker and Anti-Smoker and I am sick and tired of what FOREST represents. Smoking is a dirty filthy habit and is a total menace in all public places and the public are becoming more and more hostile toward smoking and smokers.
An increasing number of medical departments are refusing treatment to smokers and many hospitals already have a total ban on smoking. Also large numbers of employers are refusing to employ smokers because most companies have a total ban on smoking in the workplace except maybe 'FAG' companies and employers are no longer tolerating smokers nipping outside for a 'FAG' many times a day because, when this is added up, the smokers were losing many many working hours which causes loss of production and errors. Insurance companies are also biased against smokers, charging them higher premiums and extra waiver clauses too.
I see a total ban on smoking in all public places coming very soon as in Southern Ireland who are very successful with this and there has been no loss of business that was predicted. Instead business has increased because all those Non-Smokers who had stayed away because of the filthy smoke, suddenly came back and actually increased business. Also smokers, seeing the game was up, started giving up the filthy habit in their droves.
I also predict that thousands of smokers who get cancer will start to sue the tobacco companies for millions like they are doing in America right now and the end result could mean the closing down of all cigarette and tobacco companies. So it is no good you replying to this with your slick smooth defences of smoking and smokers. It won't work and you will lose and fade away. Tough ****.
posted by Simon Clark @ 23:13
12 comments
12 Comments:
Another example of the rabid, anti-smoking minority!
A "devout" non-smoker? Who would have thought?! Oh well, I guess it was only a matter of time before anti-smoking became a religion.
We'd better watch out, it looks like Hitler has been reborn!
Shame people like this make such a mockery of those who fought in 2 world wars to secure freedom of choice over dictatorship.
Perhaps John Smith should count the number of times the likes of him have predicted the end of smoking for the past 400 years. And they always state that 'this time it will be different'. Yeah, sure - blah, blah, blah.
Speaking as a Southern Irish Resident (Sir!)it, Ordinary Mr. Smith should know that Southern Ireland's Tourism board is screaming to attract new customers because the usual supply has dried up, the hospitality industry has lost thousands of jobs,innumerable pubs have closed their doors for the last time, and the promised brigade of replacement non-smoking customers failed to show.
Closures continue even now almost two years after the ban.
Donal Mac
Have you seen forself John the so called success in Ireland. My smoking friend has just come back from holiday there, outside atmosphere is great she said. Boring inside though. Must mean we have more fun than you do. More tolerance as well. We pay enough taxes we should be entitled to a smoking area. Stange don't you think there are so many people living so long with the amount of smokers in their days. Bless them.
John Smith?
Wasn't he the non-smoking leader of the Labour Party who died prematurely from a heart attack?
Naaaah, surely not!
John Smith, you are really Liam Donaldson in disguise, and I claim my £5 reward!
How's that for 'denormalization', Liam?
"So it is no good you replying to this with your slick smooth defences of smoking and smokers."
Well, he maybe thinks we're all scum but at least he's willing to admit that were dab hands at the old debating malarcy!
Actually, i'd like to add, on a point of information, that the revenue take from cigarette sales increaseed SUBSTANTIALLY throughout 2005 in Southern Ireland.
No one can understand why, least of all the smokers, most of whom import their own cigarettes ever since the ban from places like Portugal, at prices half those currently charged in the shops here. The Antis and "authorities" were said to be hopping mad at the news - but we all saw the joke ;)
What is clear, is that smoking is on a sharp increase here - the exact opposite of the desired effect of banning smokers.
The point has been made many a time that since large numbers are now forced to congregate outside the doors of pubs [the ones which haven't been yet forced to shut] smoking has never been better advertised.
As well as that it has become "cool" in an under-the-counter sort of way to a whole new generation, attracted by the apparent subversive nature of it all.
[Sir] Donal Mac
(Southern Irish Resident)
'Filthy', 'menace' & other such descriptions are your perogative to use, Mr Smith, much the same as it is my perogative to smoke if I so choose, although wouldn't it be interesting to see how much this 'filthy menace' as opposed to motor vehicles & power stations (which I presume you use both)contributed to pollution & global warming - a phenomena that has tangible proven effects?
It is interesting to note that you seem to be under the impression that there is a large underbelly of society that has been downtrodden by those wishing to smoke. I have never found this to be the case.
With regard to the health service refusing treatment to smokers, it is not uncommon to find emergency medical staff to be smokers - it eases the stress! You could also muse the possibility that if everyone gave up smoking & drinking then the government would lose such a vast swathe of revenue that they could be forced to re-think providing a public health service.
I am neither anti, nor pro smoking, nor am I a zealot. I am an individual and as such I have inalienable rights. I do not wish to stand by while my rights are eroded in this fashion. I believe there are compromises that would suit all parties concerned - health 'officials', businesses, smokers and non smokers alike.
And for your information, 'Mr Smith', I am a (part time, tobacco & occasional panatella cigar)smoker, in case you hadn't guessed, so put that in your pipe & smoke it!
Having read all these comments of which I agree with most, I think we have to be careful of becoming like Mr Smith in reverse. I found Claire77's comments interesting about Ireland which is being kept very hush hush by the media. I dont think smokers will be able to do anything about the situation, the only ones who will are the ones whose pockets hurt i.e. the beweries and until they shout louder than us we have no chance. Just a thought but if (or should I say when)the ban comes in will this also cover the houses of parliament bars - probably not because they will class themselves as "private clubs".
Shaun, I bet he will not get invited to the one in Soho. Good job too. That man is going to get high blood pressure me thinks.
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